Distributor



Nov. 12, 1935. H. FORD DISTRIBUTOR Filed Jan. 55,1955

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY.

H. FORD DISTRIBUTOR Nov. 12, 193 5.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1933 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISTRIBUTOR tion of Delaware Application January 5, 1933, Serial No. 650,295

15 Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a distributor for ignition systems of internal-combustion engines. The advantage of my distributor arises because of the elimination of the troubles now experienced with such systems, due to the accumulation of dirt, snow, Water or the like which cause short-circuits around the insulation of the high tension wires usually employed. The conventional ignition system comprises a distributor head having a plurality of terminals molded therein in which insulated wires are secured, these wires extending from the distributor head to position adjacent to each spark plug of the engine. It will be apparent that the presence of dirt and water or snow on the distributor head forms a conductor across the terminals, thereby causing failure of the engine under such circumstances.

In the distributor about to be described, special provision is made whereby every high voltage connection up to the engine spark plugs is fully protected against water, snow or dirt so that even should the distributor be covered with dirt or actually immersed in water the high tension wires and connections will remain clean and dry.

A further object of my invention is to provide a distributor which is adapted to be mounted directly upon an engine adjacent to one end of the engine cam shaft and Which is provided with a driving connection capable of being assembled in only one position to the cam shaft. This connection is so formed when the distributor and cam shaft are machined that the distributor can be assembled to the cam shaft in only its correctly timed position. For this reason the mechanic is assured that the ignition system is always correctly timed, it being impossible to assemble the device in anything but its correctly timed position.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a distributor especially suitable for use on V-type engines. With my distributor all of the wires associated with each cylinder block extend from positions adjacent to the respective spark plugs through water-tight metallic conduits to positions adjacent to the distributor. As there are two cylinder blocks in V-type motors there will be two conduits extending to the distributor. All of the high tension wires in either conduit are connected to terminals in one of a pair of terblocks and a cover forms a water-tight enbetween each conduit and its terminal block and the distributor to completely enclose by a single shroud all of the terminals in one terminal block. My distributor is provided with a novel distributor rotor which coacts with this pair of terminal blocks whereby the high voltage current impulses will be alternately distributed to these terminal blocks even though the blocks are located at diametrically opposite points around the rotor.

In connection with this distributor it should be kept in mind that in V-type engines, the firing order of the cylinders must alternate from each individual cylinder of one row to another cylinder in the other row and then back to a cylinder in the first row, etc. Regardless of the type of distributor used the individual spark plugs of the respective cylinder blocks must be alternately fired, to thus, in an eight-cylinder engine, secure 16 a power impulse every 90 degrees of rotation. If all the cylinders of one block were successively fired and then the cylinders of the other block fired, a period of uneven firing sequence would result, due to theangularity between the blocks. 20 Further, the intake manifolding would be disastrously complicated because of the uneven or pulsating gas flow through the manifolds of each block. For this reason the firing order of all such engines, known to the applicant, alternate back and forth between the blocks several times during each cycle of the engine.

The conventional distributor is provided with a cap having an annulus of terminals therearound and a rotor concentrically rotates within this cap to successively conduct current to these terminals. Because of the requisite for alternately firing the cylinders, the high tension leads from each successive terminal around the cap annulus must be conducted to alternate cylinder blocks. For this reason it has heretofore been impossible to group the terminals connected with one row of cylinders around one half of the conventional distributor cap and the terminals from the other row of cylinders around the other half of the cap. If such arrangement were permitted it would be possible to provide two water-tight covers enclosing the respective halves of the distributor cap. However, with the conventional distributor just mentioned it is not believed possible 4 to provide a pair of caps which will form a water-tight enclosure for each group of terminals associated with each cylinder block. To overcome this disadvantage numerous devices have been provided, such as water-tight sleeves 0 which cover the individual terminals, but while such devices improve the distributor style they do not, for obvious reasons, form a water-tight enclosure which. will withstand engine heat and other conditions.

In my improved distributor each of the terminals associated with one row of cylinders is grouped together an individual terminal block and a waterproof rigid cover is fixedly secured to each conduit which extends from each row of cylinders and forms a truly water-tight enclosure for the wires associated wtih each cylinder block.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a unitary ignition system wherein the distributor housing is rcvided with a breaker plate and condenser and wherein a spark coil is secured directly to the distributor body so as to form a water-tight joint therewith. This spark coil has a high tension terminal disposed inside of the housing so that it is impossible to short-circuit the coil.

Still further, the distributor terminal blocks and covers are secured to the distributor housing by means of quickly detachable bale connections. The purpose of such bales is not only to provide a quickly detachable means for installing the units to the distributor but, what is more important, to insure that an exc ssive pressure is at no time placed on dielectric parts of the device as would be likely to happen if the terminal blocks and covers were secured to the housing by means of screws or the like. As it takes only a small pressure to hold these members in place, a bale has been found very saticfactory for this purpose and has the advantages of being quickly attached, cheap to manufacture and of never shaking loose.

With these and other objects in View my invention consists in the arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts of my improved device, as described in this specification, claimed in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view of an eight-cylinder V-type engine, havin improved distributor mounted directly thereon.

Figure 2 shows a front view of the distributor unit, parts of the housing, one terminal block and terminal cover being broken away to better illustrate the construction.

Figure 3 shows a sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a top view of the distributor shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 shows a sectional view, taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows a sectional View, taken on the line 5-6 of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 shows a perspective schematic wiring diagram of the device, illustrating the arrangement of the te 'minals and rotor member, whereby the current is alternately conducted to the respective cylinder blocks while allowing the terminals associated with each block to be housed in common terminal block enclosures.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, particularly Figure l, I have used the reference numeral if to ind cate generally a V-type eightcyl'nder automob engine in which the engine cam shaft is mounted in the lower portion of the V between the cylinder blocks. The forward end of this cam shaft is illustrated by dotted lines i i in Figure 3. My improved distributor is adapted to be secured directly to the forward end of the engine in position aligned with the axis of the engine cam shaft so as to be driven directly thereby. The distributor proper comprises a metallic housing l2 having relatively large openings in in each side, top wall thereof. A flange i3 is cast integrally with the housing around the opening in its rear wall, whereby the housing is adapted to be fastened to the forward end of the engine I0.

Before describing the high tension distributor system of this device, it may be well to briefly describe the low tension portion of the distributor. This low tension portion is more or less conventional, there being a cup-shaped member M secured in the opening in the rear wall of the housing I2 in which the breaker plate and associated mechanism is disposed. The rear end of a distributor shaft i5 is rotatably mounted in the cup member M, which rear end is provided with a diametrically offset tongue l6 which is adapted to coact wtih a diametrically offset slot located in the end of the cam shaft, to be thereby direcly rotated by the cam shaft and in time therewith. The forward end of this shaft is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing in the forward wall of the housing 12.

A plate i1 is fixedly secured to the shaft l5 within the cup member M, which plate is adapted to drive a pair of governor weights l8 and which governor weights in turn drive a cam plate l9 which is secured to an eight-sided cam 20 and Lhich cam is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 55. The driving connections between the weights the plates is and H are so arranged that radial movement of the weighis causes relative rotation between the plates whereby upon rotation of the shaft i5 the cam 26 is advanced to thereby automatically advance the spark of the engine when same is running at normal speeds. A breaker arm 2| is pivotally mounted upon a breaker plate 4?, this plate being secured in the forward end of the cup member M with the breaker arm located in position to be oscillated by rotation of the cam 23. Thus, upon rotation of the shaft the cam is rotated to thus actuate the primary circuit breaker arm in the conventional manner.

Mounted upon the shaft i5 etween the cam J9 and the forward wall of the housing 12, I have provided a novel distributor rotor 22, which rotor is molded from dielectric material and which is secured to the shaft 15 by a key connection, not illustrated in the drawings. The rotor proper comprises a cylindrical sleeve 23 having a pair of axially spaced circular flanges 24 molded integrally therewith. A bronze ring 25 encircles the sleeves 23 between the flanges 24, this ring having pair of metallic arms 28 and 21, respectively, extending axially towards; opposite ends of the sleeve, the outer ends of of these arms being bent so as to extend radially the flanges 24 are offset degrees from this pcsition; that is, when one arm s extending downwardly, the other arm will not extend directly upwardly but be displaced 45 degrees from the vertical position. The relative angularity of these arms is so chosen for an eig t-cylinder SlO-clegree V-type engine but it be kept in mind that with engines having different angle or different number of cylinders the angular spacing of the two arms In it eed be altered to obtain the correct firing o-- for the ongae. From the foregoing it will be appar t that the rotor 22 rotates on a horizontal ass and that the arms 26 and 21 describe two axially spaced circular paths around the axis.

As has been mentioned, the upper portion of the housing I2 is provided with a relatively large opening therein. I have provided a closure for this opening comprising a high voltage transformer or What is commonly called a spark coil. This coil enclosure comprises a flange 48 molded of insulating material over which is mounted an inverted cup-shaped coil housing 28 in which a spark coil 29 is fixedly secured in position by the flange 48. A high tension lead wire 30 extends from the coil 29 down through the flange 46 and is secured to a terminal 3| which is molded in the flange 48. This terminal is provided with a spring urged plunger 32 which, when the flange 48 is secured in position on the housing I2, is adapted to bear against the ring 25 of the distributor rotor to thereby at all times conduct the high tension current from the coil to this ring.

A spring 33 is secured in the underside of the flange 48 and is electrically connected to the primary Winding of the spark coil. This spring is adapted to coact with a low tension terminal 34 which is supported by the plate 41 when the coil is assembled in position to thus automatically connect the primary winding of the coil to the breaker plate assembly. The flange 48 and coil housing 28 are secured together and to the housing |2 by means of three screws 5|, one of which is adapted to ground one end of the secondary winding of the coil.

The rearmost portion of the flange 48 has a sleeve 49 molded integrally therewith in which a cylindrical condenser unit 50 is disposed, which condenser unit is shunted across the spring 33 and the ground screw 5| to be thereby shunted across the breaker contact points, one of which is connected to the spring 33 and the other of which is grounded.

The feature of perhaps greatest importance in this distributor will now be described, which feature consists of the arrangement of terminal blocks in relation to the distributor rotor. As will be noted from the drawings, a pair of flat circular terminal blocks 35 are adapted to form closures for the diametrically opposite openings in the sides of the housing l2. Each of these terminal blocks is provided with four terminals 36 molded therein which extend from each block inwardly adjacent to the circular paths described by the rotor arms 26 and 21. When viewed in relation to the axis of the rotor these terminals are arranged in axially spaced pairs, the terminals of each pair being disposed degrees from each other so that upon rotation of the rotor 22 the arms 26 and 21 of the rotor will progressively pass by the terminals being in their respective paths. I have provided a pair of terminal block cover members 31 which are shaped as hollow spherical sectors and which are each adapted to be secured over one of the terminal blocks 35 by means of a spring bail 38. A resilient rubber gasket 39 is disposed between the housing l2 and each cover member 31 to form a water-tight connection between the cover and the housing. Each of these covers is molded with a sleeve 46 projecting radially therefrom through which high tension conductors from the terminals are adapted to extend.

As will be noted from Figure 1, each cylinder block of the engine has a metallic conduit 4| extending therealong and downwardly to position adjacent to the distributor. The forward end of each of the conduits 4| is adapted to receive a flexible rubber sleeve 52 therein, which sleeve snaps over the rigid sleeve 46 of the cover member 31 to thereby form a water-tight enclosure from the distributor up to the end of the conduit. In each conduit four high tension wires 42 are threaded, the distributor end of each of these wires being secured in one of the terminals of the adjacent terminal block while the other end of each of these wires extends out through the rear end of the conduit 4| and is secured directly to its particular spark plugs.

In order that the device may be conveniently serviced, each terminal block and cover member associated therewith is constructed so that it comprises a unit; that is, each conduit 4|, sleeve 52, cover 31 and terminal block 35 together with the high tension wires 42 form a unit which may readily be removed from and reassembled to the distributor. To accomplish this purpose, a shaft 43 is molded integrally with each cover 31 which shaft extends diametrically through an opening in the associated terminal block. A groove 44 is formed in the end of the shaft 43 where it projects through the terminal block and a resilient rubber ring 45 is snapped into this groove, which ring secures the terminal block and cover member together so that they do not become separated upon removal of the unit from the engine.

Referring to Figure 7, it will be seen that I have diagrammatically illustrated the high tension wiring of this device. In this particular engine the firing order of the cylinders is required to be |-54--863|2. Consequently, it is required that the current from the coil be conducted successively to the cylinder spark plugs in the order named. In operation, the rotor 22 rotates in the direction shown by arrow 46 from which it will be seen that upon rotation through 45-degree intervals the following conditions successively arise:

The arm 26 becomes aligned with the number one terminal.

The arm 21 becomes aligned with the number five terminal.

The arm 26 becomes aligned with the number four terminal.

The arm 21 becomes aligned with the number eight terminal.

The arm 26 becomes aligned with the number six terminal.

The arm 21 becomes aligned with the number three terminal.

The arm 26 becomes aligned with the number seven terminal.

The arm 21 becomes aligned with the number two terminal.

Thus, the current from the rotor is conducted alternately to the individual terminal blocks by these arms while at the same time allowing the blocks to be diametrically spaced from each other so as to be each readily covered with an independent water-tight cover.

The applicant is aware that many types of distributors have been suggested some of which may have taught the forming of the distributor head in two parts, or the grouping of two or more groups of terminals around the rotor, however, it is believed that the applicant was the first to conceive the novel idea of grouping all of the conductors from one row of cylinders in one terminal block and all of the conductors from the other row in a separate terminal block and arranging these blocks around a rotor whereby current would be alternately conducted to these terminal blocks.

Several advantages arise from the use of this distributor which advantages eliminate practically all of the trouble commonly associated with the ignition systems of internal-combustion engines.

Among these advantages it may be well to mention that my distributor is so constructed that it is impossible for it to get out of time when once assembled, which not only assures the operator of the car that his engine is always in correct time but also prevents the frequent tampering with the timing by unskilled mechanics in an attempt to correct some other trouble in the engine.

Further, it will be apparent that it is impossible to reassemble the distributor so that the firing order is any but the correct sequence unless the terminal blocks and cover member assemblies are dismantled, which is not required in order to remove the distributor from the engine.

Still further, an important advantage is obtained directiy from the arrangement of elements whereby a single unit is provided in which all of the wi ng associated with the spark coil, breaker points, condenser and high tension distributing system is enclosed so that even should the device become covered with snow, dirt, water or the like still the possibility of short-circuiting the unit would be so remote that the ignition system would function under the most adverse conditions.

Some changes may be made in the arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts of my improved device without departing from the spirit of my invention and it is my intention to cover by my claims such changes as may reasonably be included within the scope thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. An ignition distributor especially suitable for use with internal combustion engines having a plurality of rows of cylinders comprising, a distributor housing, a distributor rotor mounted in said housing, a plurality of terminal blocks, said rotor coacting with each of said terminal blocks so as to distribute ignition current to each of said blocks, there being one terminal block for each row of cylinders, and terminals in said blocks corresponding to the cylinders in each row, the terminals of each block being connected by individual conductors with the respective cylinders of each cylinder row, for the purpose described.

2. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a cover member is secured over each terminal block to form a separate closure for the terminals and conductor connections associated with each block.

3. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said terminal blocks are spaced diametrically opposite around said rotor.

i. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said terminal blocks are angularly spaced around said rotor.

5. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cover member is secured over each terminal block to form a separate closure for all of the terminals and conductor connections associated with each block, and wherein a conduit encloses the conductors of each row of cylinders, said conduits being connected with said covers by water-tight joints for the purpose described.

6. An ignition distributor especially suitable for use with V-type internal-combustion engines comprising, a housing, a distributor rotor mounted within said housing, a pair of terminal blocks mounted within said housing in position to coact with said rotor, the terminals in each of said blocks receiving ignition current from said rotor, the terminals of each terminal block being connected by individual conductors with the respective cylinders of each row of cylinders, and a cover disposed over each of said terminal blocks to thereby form separate closures for all of the terminals of each block.

'7. A device, as claimed in claim 6, wherein each cover member forms a water-tight joint with said housing to completely enclose one of the terminal blocks.

8. A device, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the terminal blocks are spaced on diametrically opposite sides of said rotor.

9. A device, as claimed in claim 6, wherein a conduit encloses the conductors from each row of cylinders, each conduit being connected with its adjacent cover by a water-tight joint, for the purpose described.

10. An ignition distributor, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said rotor is provided with a pair of axially spaced radially extending arms, and wherein the terminals in said blocks are arranged in two rows each of which is aligned with the path described by one of the rotor arms. 3U

11. An ignition distributor especially suitable for use with V-type internal combustion engines comprising, a housing, a. pair of terminal blocks in said housing, a distributor rotor rotatably mounted in said housing in position to coact with said pair of terminal blocks so as to distribute ignition current to each of said blocks, terminals in each of said blocks corresponding to the number of cylinders in each of said rows, the terminals in one of said blocks being connected by individual conductors to the respective cylinders of one cylinder row and the terminals in the other block being connected by individual conductors to the cylinders of the other cylinder row, and a pair of covers disposed over said terminal blocks so as to protect the terminals therein.

12. An ignition distributor especially suitable for use with V-type engines comprising, a housing, a distributor rotor rotatably mounted within said housing, said housing having a pair of 5 openings therein aligned with diametrically opposite portions of said rotor, a terminal block detachably secured over each of said openings, said terminal blocks each having a plurality of terminals therein and having the terminals of each 5.3 block connected by means of individual conductors with the cylinders of each row, and a cover member secured over each of said terminal blocks, which covers coact with said housing to form water tight enclosures for said terminal blocks.

13. In an ignition distributor, a housing, a terminal block secured to said housing having terminals extending therethrough, the ends of said terminals on one side of said block being positioned to coact with a distributor rotor while the o5 ends of the terminals on the other side of said block are detachably secured to ignition conduits,

a cover disposed over said last mentioned tenninal ends, means for resiliently securing said cover to said terminal block, and means for resiliently 7o securing said cover and terminal block to said housing for the purpose described.

14. A device, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the means for resiliently securing said housing to the terminal block comprises, a shaft which projects from said cover through an opening in the terminal block, said shaft having a groove therein in that portion which projects through the rotor side of said block, and in which groove a resilient rubber ring is disposed, said ring projecting beyond the edges of said opening.

15. An ignition distributor especially suitable for use with V-type engines comprising, a housing, a distributor rotor rotatably mounted within said housing, said housing having a pair of openings therein aligned with diametrically opposite portions of said rotor, a terminal block detachably secured over each of said openings so as to completely enclose said rotor, said terminal block each having a plurality of terminals therein with the terminals of one block connected by individual conductors with the cylinders of one cylinder row, the remaining terminals being connected to the other cylinder row, a cover mem ber secured over each of said terminal blocks which cover ccacts with said housing to form Water-tight enclosures for said rotor and terminals, and a shaft extending from each cover through the adjacent terminal block, said shaft having an annular groove therein positioned just inside of the adjacent terminal block, and a re- 

